Consumers more worried about personal finances and jobs, New York Fed report shows

The report was issued a week before the U.S. central bank is set to begin a two-day policy meeting. There is considerable uncertainty over what the Fed will do with its benchmark overnight interest rate, which is currently set in the 3.50%-3.75% range, as policymakers continue to struggle with inflation that remains well above the central bank's 2% target.

Pivotal to the outcome of the September 15-16 policy meeting is the release on Friday of the Consumer Price Index for August. Several Fed officials have suggested that data could prove definitive in their policy decision.

Speaking at a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker event last Thursday, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said that when it comes to the upcoming inflation report, "if there is continued progress toward our 2% goal, then I am willing to support holding the policy rate at its current level."

Other Fed officials, however, remain ready to hike rates.